Operclipygus sinuatus, Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013, A systematic revision of Operclipygus Marseul (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 271, pp. 1-401 : 41-43

Operclipygus sinuatus sp. n. Figs 9D10D, GMap 2

Type locality.

PANAMA: Colón: San Lorenzo Forest [9°17'N, 79°58'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "PANAMA: Colón Pr., San Lorenzo Forest. 9°17'N, 79°58'W. Flight Intercept FIT-I3-13, 13-14 May 2004 A. Tishechkin. IBISCA ‘04”, FMNH. Paratypes: (9): 2: same data as type, except as noted: 1: 17-18.v.2004, 1: 21-24.v.2004 (AKTC, FMNH, GBFM, MSCC); PANAMA: Colón: 2: Parque Nac. San Lorenzo, Achiote, Cafetal B, 9°12'N, 79°59'W, 50m, 8-22.v.2007, FIT, A. Mercado (GBFM, LSAM); 2: Parque Nac. San Lorenzo, Achiote, Cafetal C, 9°11'N, 79°58'W, 100m, 9-23.v.2007, FIT, A. Mercado (AKTC); 1: Parque Nac. San Lorenzo, Achiote, Cafetal A, 9°12'N, 79°58'W, 100m, 26. vi– 10.vii.2007, FIT, A. Mercado (AKTC), 1: 250m, 7-21.v.2007 (AKTC); 1: Barro Colorado Isl., iii.2001, host Eciton burchelli (Westwood), C. & M. Rettenmeyer (UCONN).

Diagnostic description.

This species is very similar in most characters to Operclipygus mirabilis and is only described to the extent that it differs. Length: 1.90-2.15 mm, width: 1.59-1.78 mm; head with supraorbital stria weakly impressed, barely detached from frontal stria at sides; pronotal disk depressed at base, but basal plicae weak to indistinct; anterior submarginal pronotal stria absent, anterior marginal stria complete behind head; male with granulate sculpturing along anterior margin of pronotum, with divergent, sinuate, elongate depressions extending posterad leading to the median pronotal gland openings halfway to posterior margin; coarse lateral discal punctures of pronotum few to absent; female with more distinct lateral coarse punctures, a few fragments of anterior submarginal pronotal stria frequntly visible at sides, and with median gland openings about one-fifth from anterior margin, with very shallow, indistinct impression anterior of them; elytra with inner subhumeral stria absent, sutural stria obsolete in basal third, not meeting basal arch of 5th stria; apical punctures of elytral disk more numerous and diffuse; prosternal carinal striae variably shortened anteriorly, especially in males, meeting in a narrow arch just anterad midpoint of keel; base of keel truncate, not at all projecting posterad, anterior margin of mesoventrite correspondingly truncate, or even very weakly projecting at middle; mesometaventral stria more angulate than rounded at middle, reaching basal third of mesoventral disk; metaventral disk with secondary, outer lateral stria parallel to lateral stria in its basal half; pygidium with ground punctation very conspicuous, marginal pygidial stria present, obsolete in basal corners. Male genitalia (Figs 10D, G) with apical guides of S8 slightly narrower apically than in Operclipygus mirabilis , aedeagus more strongly hooked at apex.

Remarks.

Males of Operclipygus sinuatus are distinguished by the long, sinuate channel extending nearly half the length of the pronotum (Fig. 9D), and by the granulate impressed area along the anterior margin of the pronotum. The females are quite similar to most others in the mirabilis group, but have very weak pronotal plicae, lack an inner subhumeral elytral stria, and have a fine, distinct marginal pygidial stria.

Etymology.

This species’ name refers to the sinuous track of the male gland opening on the pronotal disk.